Resident doctors are preparing to walk out for four days this summer, following a breakdown in talks between the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Government. The industrial action is scheduled for the middle of June, with BMA officials warning that further dates could be announced for July if progress is not made.
This decision comes directly after fresh talks concluded between representatives and the newly appointed Health Secretary, James Murray. Both sides have expressed deep disappointment over the current deadlock.
Impact on Hospital Rotas
Hospital rotas will be heavily affected from 7am on Monday, June 15. The planned protest is set to conclude at 6.59am on Friday, June 19, reports Storm Newton.
Murray, who recently took over the cabinet role, said that the BMA's financial expectations were entirely unfeasible. He claimed the Government had hoped to build a positive relationship but could not meet the latest demands.
"I'm disappointed that the BMA have refused to consider further discussions about how to strengthen the deal on the table and have instead rushed once again to unnecessary and unreasonable strike action," Murray said. "I was clear with the BMA that after a 33.4% pay rise for resident doctors over the last four years – the highest anywhere across the public sector – demands for further substantial pay increases this year are unrealistic, unaffordable, and unsustainable."
"These are simply not grounds for yet more strike action, which patients do not support, puts further pressure on other staff and costs the NHS hundreds of millions of pounds," he added.
BMA Response
Dr Jack Fletcher, who leads the committee representing resident doctors, expressed frustration at the lack of political progress. He noted that people had anticipated a different stance following the recent leadership transition.
"We had hoped that a change in leadership at the Department of Health and Social Care would lead to a change in approach. Sadly, we have run up against the same unwillingness to move we encountered under Mr Streeting," Fletcher said.
"We were prepared to give Mr Murray time to settle into his role before completing the work his predecessor left unfinished – to both make a fair and meaningful pay offer and make concrete commitments to end the jobs bottleneck throttling the careers of our colleagues."
"He had a genuine opportunity to break this logjam with fresh energy and ambition. He has not taken it. Instead, we are hearing the same tired line: vagueness on new jobs and no further money on the table. We cannot be asked to negotiate in good faith for weeks, only to be told there is nothing left to negotiate about on pay and no further details at this stage on jobs," said Fletcher.
Union's Stance
Union leaders maintain they simply want a reasonable resolution that ensures secure employment opportunities and fair salary adjustments. "The key thing from our point of view is that we are ready and willing to negotiate, we've been trying to do so for the last six weeks to avoid any further industrial action, but sadly the Government have not been forthcoming with a different offer," Fletcher said.
The health secretary has urged the BMA to "step back from more damaging strikes and work in partnership with the Government for the benefit of their members and the NHS." This latest walkout represents the sixteenth period of industrial action seen since 2023.
Cost and Mandate
Estimates suggest the ongoing friction has cost the taxpayer more than £3bn. Resident doctor members of the BMA have a mandate for industrial action until August. The union is also balloting consultants and specialist, associate specialist and specialty (SAS) doctors, in a vote to close on July 6.
